by Bea Peterson
On Monday, January 6, Becky Goodermote of Hoosick Falls appeared before Rensselaer County Judge Debra Young. Instead of going to trial on more serious manslaughter charges in the death of Matthew Ratelle, Goodermote pled guilty to Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving a Death, with a sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison and Criminally Negligent Homicide, with a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years. Acting District Attorney Art Glass said the sentences will be served concurrently. Goodermote’s sentence began immediately following conviction.
[private]Glass said three Ratelle family members read impact statements and Goodermote addressed the Court as well.
On Monday morning, September 3, 2012, Matthew Ratelle, 39 years old, from Petersburgh, was riding his bicycle northbound on the right shoulder of Route 22 in Hoosick when he was struck from behind by a northbound vehicle driven by Goodermote. Ratelle was thrown onto a grassy area, approximately 30 yards north from where he was struck. He suffered massive head trauma, despite wearing a helmet and was transported by ambulance to Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington and then airlifted to Albany Medical Center. He never recovered from his injuries and died on December 20, 2012.
Ratelle is survived by three children, his wife, his parents and several more family members. His wife was expecting their third child at the time of the accident.
To this day a white bicycle attached to a pole at the site of the accident remains as a grim reminder of what can happen in an instant.[/private]